McCaw set for Test ton – Richie McCaw is set to play his 100th Test in the All Blacks’ next group game against France on Saturday.

Skipper McCaw (calf), along with flyhalf Dan Carter (back) and fullbacks Mils Muliaina (hamstring) and Israel Dagg (abdominal strain), were all late withdrawals from the team that beat Japan 83-7 in Waikato.

McCaw, Carter and Muliaina are set to start against the Le Bleus this weekend, which will see McCaw make his 100th appearance for the All Blacks. Dagg is also expected to be available for selection.

Meanwhile, the injured Kieran Read (ankle) made an appearance at the All Blacks’ training on Monday. He was seen limping and avoided heavy practice, but managed to do individual scrumming drills. He is set to make his return against Canada on 2 October.

France want ABs scalp – Marc Lievremont stressed that France will be going all out against the All Blacks, after being told that defeat would lead to an easier route to the final.

Lievremont hasn’t named his team yet for Saturday’s clash yet but has confirmed that whichever team is picked, it will be aiming to beat the hosts.

‘What are you saying? Are you saying we should lose against the All Blacks on purpose?’ he said, after a French journalist asked if Australia’s 15-6 Pool C loss to Ireland had changed his thinking on the team to face the hosts.

‘If we lose it might be easier, but then again the All Blacks might have exactly the same assessment as us, so they might want to lose against us.

‘With matches ahead against the All Blacks and Tonga I don’t think we are going to start these games thinking we are going to lose, that certainly is not an option.’